Comments on: DIY repairs

By: Hazel

Hazel — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:13:15 +0000

Thanks Chris!
I’m not having problems with punctures, but I’ll give ‘em a closer look. Someone else also recommended Schwalbe tyres so I’ll check those out.

By: Nam Nguyen

Nam Nguyen — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:15:11 +0000

Thanks for the link Shamin, looks very useful!

By: Chris Moore

Chris Moore — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:12:21 +0000

Hi Hazel,

It’s true that slick tyres are better for city riding, but your tyres may be bald (i.e. the tread has been worn through). If that’s so, and you’re getting more punctures due to thin tread, I’d suggest replacing tyres. Schwalbe Marathon tyres are good puncture-resistant tyres (I use ‘em) – a pair is about $80 or $90.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:31:29 +0000

Any advice on how to tell if I need new tyres?

I was worried that the tyres on my hybrid bike were looking pretty worn, and that sometimes they were sliding sideways in a worrying way when I braked at junctions at the bottom of a hill. But now I heard that slick tyres are the smartest way to go for riding on the road, and that some manufacturers put a little bit of a pattern on the tyre just for show, to reassure people like me!

So I’ve been putting off forking out the cash for new ones, but how long should I keep riding on my existing tyres?

By: Shamin

Shamin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:34:35 +0000

Some other good resources for DIY repairs:
1. http://bicycletutor.com/. Bike Repair Video Tutorials.
2. ZINN & The Art Of Road Bike Maintenance Book. I bought mine for ~$36 from the UNSW Bookshop.

Shamin